ADVOCACY

The Cold Spring Chamber of Commerce is committed to fostering a thriving, inclusive, and sustainable community. Our advocacy efforts focus on issues that matter not just to our members, but also to our fellow residents and the broader social, economic and ecological community of which we are part. We champion values and policies that reflect these diverse interests, and we are dedicated to playing a constructive role in conversations of local and regional importance.

Our Key Advocacy Issues

1. Localism

Supporting local businesses helps build a resilient community, promotes economic prosperity, and reduces the ecological impact of commerce. We recognize the importance of a healthy, sustainable, and equitable local economy to preserve our unique character and our natural environment.

Our Advocacy: We sponsor events throughout the year designed to forge positive connections between local businesses, nonprofits and the community. We encourage residents to shop local and we create resources and opportunities for area businesses and organizations to do business with one another. Visit our Insider’s Guide to find a local business or nonprofit to support and read our Top Ten Reasons to Shop Local.

2. Environmental Sustainability

We recognize the importance of preserving our natural environment for the well-being of current and future generations. Ecologically responsible policies and sustainable business practices contribute to the long-term prosperity of our economy, our residents, and the ecosystem that sustains us.

Our Advocacy: We advocate for policies and initiatives that promote environmental conservation, reduce carbon emissions, and protect our local ecosystems. We provide information, resources and workshops to our members and the community on sustainability and decarbonization, and we collaborate with groups like Climate Smart Philipstown to promote responsible environmental stewardship.

3. Public Services and Infrastructure

Robust public services and infrastructure are critical to maintaining a flourishing local economy and prosperous community. We support the effective leveraging of public resources (and, where appropriate, public-private partnerships) to sustain a healthy business environment, a thriving community, and a high quality of life.

Our Advocacy: We have successfully lobbied to keep essential services like public restrooms open and accessible, and we are working to expand public services like drinking water stations to accommodate the needs of residents and visitors. We will also continue to work with the county, town and villages to improve trolley service and other modes of public transportation.

4. Sharing County Sales Tax Revenue

We champion the idea of sharing county sales tax revenue with local municipalities. Allowing villages and towns to focus resources where they are needed most increases government efficiency, improves quality of life, fosters healthy communities, and helps create and maintain a vibrant and productive business environment. It also gives municipalities the satisfaction of helping determine how sales tax revenue generated by their local businesses and residents is allocated.

Our Advocacy: In 2022, we partnered with local officials to convince Putnam County to share a portion of its annual sales tax revenue with local municipalities, which resulted in a one-time distribution of $5 million for badly needed infrastructure, mental health, substance abuse, food insecurity and other civic priorities. We continue to advocate for making this policy permanent. Read our Business Sign-On Letter here.

5. Universal Healthcare

We believe that everyone has a right to quality healthcare, regardless of age, income, employment or ability to pay. Our current system leaves too many out and costs too much, and administering health benefits is a major drag on business and the economy. A healthy community is a strong community, and we believe that universal healthcare is essential to the well-being of our residents and the success of our local businesses.

Our Advocacy: We proudly endorse the New York Health Act, a bill before the NYS Legislature that would guarantee comprehensive healthcare to every New Yorker with no premiums, copays or deductibles. We successfully lobbied the Town of Philipstown and the Village of Cold Spring to pass resolutions in support of this life-saving legislation, and we encourage our members to join the hundreds of businesses, professional organizations, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations around the State of New York that have endorsed the bill. Learn more about the New York Health Act here.

Want to get involved? Please reach out: advocacy@coldspringnychamber.com.